Ames National Laboratory Scientist I - Battery & Halide Chemistry

Iowa State University•Ames, IA

46d

About The Position

Would you like to work for a National Laboratory that conducts world-renowned research? Would you enjoy working on a beautiful university campus? Can you imagine yourself in a mid-sized location that regularly ranks as one of the U.S. Best Places to Live? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you should consider a career with Ames National Laboratory! Ames Laboratory is a U.S. Department of Energy federally contracted National Laboratory located in Ames, Iowa, on the campus of Iowa State University. We are dedicated to translating foundational science through applied research to create technological innovations. We create materials, inspire minds to solve problems, and address some of the most challenging issues facing our world today. We promote and believe in a culture of civility and shared ownership in support of the Laboratory's collective success. The Division of Critical Materials (DCM) at Ames National Laboratory seeks a Scientist I to conduct basic and applied research in battery materials development and recycling as well as in the development, characterization, and application of halide chemistry for materials processing and refinement. Ames National Laboratory is a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) national laboratory operated by Iowa State University under contract. DCM is the Ames National Laboratory division that oversees the DOE Critical Materials Innovation Hub (CMI). The successful candidate will design and advance novel battery-recycling technologies, including Ames National Laboratory's BRAWS (Battery Recycling and Water Splitting) platform. The role will also pursue mechanisms, structure-property relationships, transport, and interphase chemistry associated with the discovery, development, and application of halide chemistries, and will leverage these chemistries in the processing and refinement of critical materials. The position includes hypothesis-driven research with clear line-of-sight to prototype-relevant validation. Candidates should be prepared to broaden their expertise across multiple material classes, with particular focus on DOE-designated critical materials. The role requires operation and upkeep of key laboratory systems including vacuum and inert-atmosphere furnaces, gloveboxes, fume hoods, and molten-salt electrolysis cells. It includes the use of standard characterization tools (ICP-OES/MS, DSC/TGA-GC-MS, XRD, SEM/EDS, etc.), executed with rigorous EHS and data-integrity practices. The Scientist I will collaborate with the supervisor, DCM researchers, Ames National Laboratory investigators, and partners across the CMI Hub to perform cutting-edge research. Responsibilities include conceiving, planning, executing, and supervising experiments; analyzing and interpreting results; and presenting and defending findings in internal reviews and at professional meetings. The incumbent will author manuscripts; mentor students; support postdoctoral researchers; and lead or contribute to competitive research proposals (as PI or co-PI) to sustain and grow the program. The position will also interface with administrative staff and cultivate a broader network of industrial, national-laboratory, and academic partners, in alignment with Ames National Laboratory's strategic goals.

Requirements

Master's degree and 3 years of related experience
Operation and upkeep of key laboratory systems including vacuum and inert-atmosphere furnaces, gloveboxes, fume hoods, and molten-salt electrolysis cells.
Use of standard characterization tools (ICP-OES/MS, DSC/TGA-GC-MS, XRD, SEM/EDS, etc.), executed with rigorous EHS and data-integrity practices.

Nice To Haves

Degree in metallurgy, physical science, physics, chemistry, materials science or related field.
Hands-on experience in the study of complex materials systems, particularly phase evolution, thermal stability, etc.
Demonstrated capabilities with processes for battery recycling, especially direct recycling methods.
Experience with the study of halide-based materials and demonstrated application of such materials to a critical materials' relevant application.
Proven ability to conduct advanced characterization (XRD, SEM/EDS, XPS, ICP-OES/MS, Raman/IR, DSC/TGA-GC-MS; LECO O/N/H/C etc.).
Operation of vacuum/inert furnaces, gloveboxes, , hot materials transfer/handling, and inert-gas management.
Experience in laboratory space management including equipment maintenance and chemical inventory management.
Technical writing and communication skills; ability to defend methods/results in reviews and at professional meetings.
Experience or exposure in writing grant proposals.

Responsibilities

Conceiving, planning, executing, and supervising experiments
Analyzing and interpreting results
Presenting and defending findings in internal reviews and at professional meetings
Author manuscripts
Mentor students
Support postdoctoral researchers
Lead or contribute to competitive research proposals (as PI or co-PI) to sustain and grow the program
Interface with administrative staff and cultivate a broader network of industrial, national-laboratory, and academic partners, in alignment with Ames National Laboratory's strategic goals.

Benefits

Iowa State Employees enjoy comprehensive health and work-life benefits, including medical and dental
Retirement benefits including defined benefit and defined contribution plans
Generous vacation, holiday and sick time and leave plans
Onsite childcare (Ames, Iowa)
Life insurance and long-term disability
Flexible Spending Accounts
Various voluntary benefits and discounts
Employee Assistance Program
Wellbeing program
Iowa State offers WorkFlex options for some positions. WorkFlex offers flexibility on when, where, and how you do your work. For more information, please speak with the Hiring Manager.